Daily Archives: November 8, 2017

Every so often I get an email in my inbox with an event that A. fits my schedule and B. sounds really, really neat. The chance to attend a show at Chicago’s Magic Parlour was one of those. I’d never heard of this but apparently it’s been going on for six years at the Palmer House Hilton!

Magician Dennis Watkins performs an 80 minute show for a crowd of up to 44 people which, to me, makes it all the more impressive that he’s not only able to enthrall the audience with card tricks, slight of hand, and amazing mind reading skills, but he’s able to get tons of audience interaction and volunteers.

I got to participate in a card trick that even though we got to see it twice, I still don’t know how he did it! I’ll post a short video on Instagram but, basically, I wrote my name on a playing card, Dennis got into a giant balloon, and then when I threw the deck of cards at him he skewered my card with a knife, popping the balloon at the same time. Crazy!

And, yes, Jason came with me. Even though he is a hard-core skeptic he really, really enjoyed himself. Dennis pointed out that while he is the magician it’s really all of us in the audience that make the magic happen. Suspending your disbelief for 80 minutes reminds you of when you were a kid and you believed anything could happen.

We started off the evening with drinks at Potter’s Lounge at the Palmer House. If you weren’t able to get a drink at the bar beforehand, though, they had wine, beer, and soft drinks available at the show.

The dress code is “cocktail attire” so I took the opportunity to wear this dress that hasn’t seen much love. It’s a little too short, a little too low-cut, and a little too dressy for my regular everyday wear (although, I have made it work appropriate before).

Thankfully the cold spell Chicago’s been having took a break so that I didn’t freeze to death!

Overall, I highly HIGHLY recommend The Magic Parlour. Watching a magic show is an amazing form of entertainment. You know they’re tricking you but, dang, they do it with such panache. Jokes, banter, engagement: it all takes a skilled performer and Dennis certainly fits the bill!

I was able to attend for free thanks to this here blog and my membership in the Windy City Blogger Collective, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Jason will agree with me, unprompted, that it was a super fun evening!

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